Court awards State nearly $2.5 million in damages and penalties in False Claims Act case

Court issues order after jury found Emaldeldin Ibrahim liable in April for making fraudulent submissions for reimbursement under federal Child and Adult Care Food Program, in case tried by Attorney General Ellison’s Office

Court’s order awards State treble damages plus civil penalties

June 12, 2026 (SAINT PAUL) — Hennepin County District Court has ordered that Emaldeldin Ibrahim pay $2,481,310.08 in damages, civil penalties, and attorneys’ fees to the State of Minnesota for making fraudulent submissions for reimbursement under the federal Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP). On April 28, 2026, after a four-day trial, Attorney General Ellison’s office secured a jury verdict of guilty against Emaldeldin Ibrahim for violations of the Minnesota False Claims Act. At the time, the jury found that Ibrahim had submitted a total $188,350.82 in false claims to the Minnesota Department of Education (MDE) in March, April, and November 2021, for which he was reimbursed.

Under the Minnesota False Claims Act, the State is automatically entitled to treble damages, which the court awarded in the amount of $565,052.52. In its order, the court additionally ordered that Ibraham pay a civil penalty of $1,695,157.56, which is nine times the total amount of false claims he submitted. The court further awarded the State $221,100 in attorneys’ fees and court costs.

“Emadeldin Ibrahim stole our tax dollars while pretending to feed hungry children during a pandemic. My office worked alongside the Minnesota Department of Education to hold Ibrahim accountable for his disgraceful actions and recover our tax dollars and more. Thanks to this $2.5 million judgment, Mr. Ibrahim will be paying back the people of Minnesota for quite some time,” Attorney General Ellison said.

“The severity of the damages and penalties the court awarded should be wake-up call to anyone even thinking about defrauding the State of Minnesota. Not only will you face criminal consequences, but the Minnesota Attorney General’s Office will pursue you under civil law to recover Minnesota taxpayers’ hard-earned dollars,” Attorney General Ellison added.

At the April trial, Attorney General Ellison’s office presented evidence to the jury that Ibrahim knowingly misrepresented his affiliation with the Sudanese American Community Association of Minnesota so he could participate in CACFP, that he knowingly submitted reimbursement claims to MDE for meals and snacks that were not served to children, and that he knowingly submitted reimbursement claims for snacks and meals that did not comply with the federal regulations governing the provision of that food.

Attorney General Ellison’s office and MDE were alerted to this case when the Sudanese Community Association and their bank, Wells Fargo, identified deposits into their account that they believed to be improper. Wells Fargo segregated the money and brought the matter to Attorney General Ellison’s office, which reviewed the evidence and pursued recovery of this money under the Minnesota False Claims Act.

Attorney General Ellison’s Office thanks the Sudanese Community Association and Wells Fargo for their work on this case and for providing information and documents that helped the State arrive at this successful verdict.